Geriatric chair

ABSTRACT

A chair primarily intended for use by elderly persons and, to this end, having a seat slidable from the rear of the seat area or compartment to a forward position of movement, from which position only an optimum minimal physical effort is required to rise from the seat. Said forward seat position provides not only a favorable forward weight shift, but also advantageously locates the shifted weight between arm rests that assist in said rising movement from the seat.

Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,863,980

Ciner 1 Feb. 4, 1975 GERIATRIC CHAIR 3,610,685 10/1971 Hay 297/231 Inventor: Elliot Cine 520 E 21st 3,640,566 2/1972 Hodge 297/DlG. 10

B kl ,N.Y. 11226 r00 yn Prrmary Exammer-Casmn A. Nunberg [22] F1led: June 15, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bauer & Amer [21] Appl. No.: 370,229

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. c1. 297/69, 297/342 A chair Primarily intended for use by elderly Persons [51] Int. Cl A47c 1/02, A47c 1/06 and, to h n having a seat slidable from the rear of 58 Field of Search 297/69, 230, 231, 320, the Seat area Or Compartment to a forward Position of 297/337, 340442, 5 55 411, 429, 430, movement, from which position only an optimum min- 460 imal physical effort is required to rise from the seat.

Said forward seat position provides not only a favor- 5 References Cited able forward weight shift, but also advantageously lo- UNITED STATES PATENTS cates the shifted weight between arm rests that assist in said rising movement from the seat. 2,627,898 2/1953 Jackson 297/342 3,539,220 11/1970 Aguilar 297/320 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 41975 SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG! GERIATRIC CHAIR The present invention relates generally to improvements in chairs, and more particularly to an improved chair construction that contributes to comfort and, more importantly, also facilitates the use of the chair by elderly persons and those not capable of strenuous physical effort.

Underlying the present invention is the recognition that the considerable physical effort that is required to rise from a normal sitting position in a conventional chair is attributable to the disadvantageous starting position from which this movement is initiated. Not only must the user lift himself from the seat, but he also must pitch or project himself forward into the seat area bounded by the front portions of the arm rests. The user, to obtain maximum assistance during said rising movement, further must relocate his hand grip on the arm rests relative to his weight or, in other words, change from his hand grip position normally used during sitting to a new position better suited to rising from said sitting position. Elderly persons, in particular, find the foregoing difficult, and there are no chairs that adequately solve or minimize these difficulties.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a geriatric chair overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a chair with a positionable seat, and in which one position thereof is intended to achieve a favorable weight shift and otherwise assist a seated person in rising therefrom with an optimum, minimum physical effort.

A geriatric chair demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a seat that is horizontally slidable between two vertically oriented arm rests, the seat forward position of sliding movement being favorable for rising from said seat, and wherein a pivotally mounted backrest of the chair is in pushing engagement with said seat so that preparatory to rising, the user merely leans back against the backrest causing said forward shift in the seat and thus in the users weight, and then himself merely bends forward away from the backrest and, while pushing down on the arm rests, easily and readily completes his rising movement from the seat. During said rising movement, there is practically no pitching forward, or other strenuous, movement that is required.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, not nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a geriatric chair according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in section, taken along line 22 of FIG. 3, illustrating further structural features and wherein positions of movement of the moving parts of said chair are illustrated in full line and phantom line perspective;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the chair illustrating still further structural features thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, illustrating structural features of the means mounting the seat of the chair for sliding movement; and

The remaining FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, are diagramatic views illustrating the contemplated use of the chair, and in particular the conditions thereof during sitting service and at the time the user desires to rise from the chair.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. SA-SD which, as just noted, illustrate the contemplated use of the chair. More particularly, the chair, generally designated 10, has two arm rests 12 at opposite sides which bound therebetween a sitting area or seat compartment 14, at the bottom of which there is a seat 16. Seat 16, as will be explained in detail subsequently, is mounted for sliding movement and, to this end, chair 10 includes a pivotally mounted backrest 18 having its lower edge 20 in pushing engagement with the rear edge of the seat 16 to urge said seat through said sliding movement.

Chair 10, as the name assigned to it herein implies, is intended primarily for the use by elderly persons who are known to have difficulty in rising from a sitting position in a chair. Thus, typical use of the geriatric chair 10 hereof contemplates that a typical elderly person, identified by the reference number 22, will lower himself into the seat compartment 14 and into sitting position on the seat 16 using horizontally oriented arm supports 24 of the arm rest structures 12. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the position of movement of the seat 16 at this time is rearwardly in the compartment 14, and it is not contemplated that the user 22 will have any difficulty lowering himself onto the seat 16 with his weight correspondingly located rearwardly of the seat compartment 14. However, as generally understood, considerable strength and effort is required of the user 22 to rise from the chair 10 in the position of the seat 16 illustrated in FIG. SA since, as just noted, the weight of the user is located adjacent the rear of the seat compartment l4 and thus well in back of the front opening bounded by the front end portions 26 of the supports 24.

As best illustrated by progressive examination of FIGS. 5A and 5B, preparatory to rising from the seat 16, and in order to facilitate this movement, it is contemplated that the user 22 will lean back on the backrest 18 and, as a consequence, cause a corresponding forward shifting movement in the seat 16 which projects said seat to the front area of the seat compartment 14. Movement of the seat 16 into said position of movement illustrated in FIG. 58 also correspondingly locates the weight of the user 22 between the front end portions 26 of the supports 24 of the armrest 12.

Taking full advantage of this favorable position of the seat 16 and of the just noted weight-shift of the user 22, said user 22, as best illustrated in FIG. 5C, then has only to lean forward, i.e., in a direction away from the backrest 18. This then positions the user 22 within the opening into the seat compartment 14 which is bounded on opposite sides by the armrests l2 and requires of the user 22 only the effort and strength necessary to push firmly down on the front portions 26 of the supports 24. In effect, the favorable position of the chair 16 relative to the pushing areas 26 enables the arm rests 12 to be used as canes on which the user 22 can push and lean during his rise from the seat 16, said rise being essentially in a vertical direction. This is in contrast to an ordinary chair in which there is no sliding movement in the seat 16 and from which an elderly user must therefore not only rise vertically, but also pitch or project himself in a forward direction, said latter forward directional movement requiring an extent of physical strength and effort that is normally beyond, or at any rate, greatly taxes physical capabilities of persons who are advanced in years.

Also assisting user 22 in rising from the chair 10 hereofin its condition as illustrated in FIG. 5C is a footrest or supporting panel 31 occupying a depending position along the front edge of the seat 16. Panel 31, during said rising movement, lends support, i.e., functions as supporting structure, for the legs of the user 22 which are advantageously pressed against it during the activity of rising from the chair 10. This, therefore, also contributes to rendering it readily possible for elderly persons to use the chair without assistance.

In remaining diagramatic FIG. 5D, it is illustrated that the forward position of the seat 16, i.e., that described in connection with FIG. 53, can also advantageously be used to provide a relaxed reclining position for the user 22. In this position, the previously noted foot-supporting panel 31 is pivoted into a horizontally oriented position so as to serve as an extension of the seat 16.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-4 which illustrate a preferred construction of the geriatric chair 10 which allows for sliding movement in the seat 16 for sitting service of the chair 10, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, and also for achieving the position, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, which facilitates rising from said position. Chair 10, as already noted, includes two identically constructed side arm rest constructions 12, each of which, as is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, has said horizontally oriented support 24 held in an elevated position by front and rear legs 28 and 30, respectively. Appropriately connected at a midway point in the elevation of the legs 28, 30, as at 32, is a seat-supporting frame 34 for the slidably disposed seat 16.

That is, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, seat 16 has appropriately connected, in depending relation from its undersurface, a pair of L-shaped frames 36 on which rollers 38 are appropriately journalled for rotation. Rollers 38 are accommodated in a channel 40 which is appropriately supported on each of the seat side frame members 34.

It is also illustrated in FIG. 4 that a cylindrical bar 42 having an external grip 44, and normally biased inwardly by spring 46, functions, when projected within a cooperating opening in the member 48, also supported on one of the L-shaped angles or frames 36, to hold seat 16 in a corresponding sliding position of movement thereof. Said position either can be that position of movement rearwardly of the seat compartment 14, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, or the forward position of movement thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 5C. In fact, there can also be openings in member 48 intermediate the openings providing the positions of movement just noted which, receiving the projecting end of the holding member 46, would hold the seat 16 in corre sponding intermediate positions of movement.

To urge the seat 16 through its positions of movement, use is made, as already generally noted, of the pivotally mounted backrest 18. In the preferred illustrated embodiment, backrest 18 includes an open body or frame 48, the side members of which, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, are provided at their intersection with the rear portion 50 of each support 44 of the arm rest constructions 12 with a hinged or pivoting connection,

as at 52. A similar, conventional hinge connection is also provided, as at 54, between the previously noted bottom edge 20 of backrest l8 and the rear end of seat 16, so that backrest l8, and more particularly the bottom edge 20 thereof is in pushing connection with the seat 16. This, in an obvious manner, accordingly results in sliding movement being imparted to the seat 16 whenever backrest 18 is urged through a pivotal traverse about the pivot 52. The positions of movement of said backrest I8 and seat 16 are illustrated in full line and phantom line perspective in FIG. 2.

A pivotal traverse in the backrest 18 is, of course, readily imparted to this member by the user releasing the seat-holding member 42 and merely leaning back against the backrest 18. At this time, the user has the front portions 26 of the supports 24 to hold onto so that the rearward traverse of the backrest I8 is managed at a controlled speed. The forward extent of the movement of seat 16 is automatically limited by the extent of translation movement that can occur in the pivot 54 of the hinge connection between the backrest 18 and the seat 16.

As already noted, not only is the FIG. 5B position of the seat 16 advantageous to minimize the physical effort required on the part of the user 22 in rising from the seat 16, butit also provides a comfortable reclining position. Provided to contribute to the comfort of this reclining position is the previously noted footsupporting panel 31 which, as a result of pivotal movement, can serve as an extension of the seat 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5D. To the above end, and as illustrated in FIGS. l4, panel 31 is pivotally connected, as at 56, 58, in depending relation adjacent the front edge of the seat 16. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, supported on a bracket 60 connected to the underside of seat 16 is a gear box 62 having internal intermeshing gears therein from which there extends a shaft 64 on which there is a pinion gear 66. In meshing engagement with gear 66 is a slidably disposed rack 68 having a rolling surface 70 in rolling contact with rollers 72 journalled to an L-shaped frame 74 appropriately supported in depending relation on the undersurface of the seat 16. Also extending from the gear box 62 is a crank 76 with an accessible crankinghandle 78. Thus, cranking the crank 76 results in rotation of pinion 66 via a gear train within the gear box 62 and thus produces correspond ing linear movement in rack 68. A link 80, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, is connected between the rack 68 and foot-supporting panel 31 so that linear movements of the rack produces corresponding pivotal movements in the panel about the pivot connections 56, 58.

Completing the geriatric chair 10 are appropriate upholstery cushions 82, 84, and 86 for the seat 16, backrest frame 48, and leg-supporting panels 31, respectively. L-shaped frames 88 on the upper surface of the seat 16 may be used to assist in holding the cushion 82 in place. Because of the vertical position of footrest cushion 86, its position is preferrably retained using straps 90 provided with patches 92 of Velcro or the like. Velcro or similar connecting means is also contemplated for wrapping about the supports 24 suitable arm rest cushions 94, 96, which contribute, in an obvious manner, to the comfort in using the geriatric chair 10 hereof.

From the foregoing, it should be readily appreciated that the significant aspects of the chair 10 is its ability to shift the weight of the user 10 forwardly of the seat compartment 14, and in this manner minimize the physical effort that is required for the user to raise himself from a seated position therein. In an appropriate construction to achieve this, however, there can be a great latitude of modification, change and substitution in the structural features disclosed, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

l. A geriatric chair comprising a pair of facing vertically oriented arm rests bounding a seat compartment therebetween, each arm rest having a horizontally oriented support with front and rear end portions extending the depth of said seat compartment so as to be respectively located adjacent the front and rear of said chair, a seat support in said seat compartment, a seat slidably disposed on said seat support having a first operative position of movement located rearwardly in said seat compartment adapted for sitting service of said chair and having a second operative position of movement located forwardly in said seat compartment adapted for facilitating rising from said seat by shifting the weight of the user to said chair front and between said front end portions of the supports of said arm rests, a seat-holding means for holding said seat in said first and second positions of movement, a backrest pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end portions of the supports of said arm rests and having a lower edge thereon in pushing engagement with said seat, whereby actuating said backrest through a pivotal traverse provides a selected one of said first and second positions of movement of said seat which is best adapted for either sitting in or rising from the seat of said chair, a foot-supporting panel mounted along the front of said seat for pivotal movement independently of said sliding movement of I said seat, and drive means including a rack and pinion operatively arranged in meshing engagement with each other with an extent of frictional resistance against movement to normally hold said foot-supporting panel in its pivotal positions of movement supported in depending relation along the undcrsurface of said seat operatively connected to urge said foot-supporting panel through pivotal traverses relative to said seat.

2. A geriatric chair as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive means includes a rack and pinion operatively arranged in meshing engagement with each other with an extent of frictional resistance against movement to normally hold said foot-supporting panel in its pivotal positions of movement.

3. A geriatric chair as defined in claim 1 including a crank connected to extend from said pinion to an accessible position projected laterally from beneath said seat of said chair.

4. A geriatric chair as defined in claim 3 including legs for holding said seat support in an elevated position, said legs being formed integral with and as the lower portions of said arm rests. 

1. A geriatric chair comprising a pair of facing vertically oriented arm rests bounding a seat compartment therebetween, each arm rest having a horizontally oriented support with front and rear end portions extending the depth of said seat compartment so as to be respectively located adjacent the front and rear of said chair, a seat support in said seat compartment, a seat slidably disposed on said seat support having a fIrst operative position of movement located rearwardly in said seat compartment adapted for sitting service of said chair and having a second operative position of movement located forwardly in said seat compartment adapted for facilitating rising from said seat by shifting the weight of the user to said chair front and between said front end portions of the supports of said arm rests, a seat-holding means for holding said seat in said first and second positions of movement, a backrest pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end portions of the supports of said arm rests and having a lower edge thereon in pushing engagement with said seat, whereby actuating said backrest through a pivotal traverse provides a selected one of said first and second positions of movement of said seat which is best adapted for either sitting in or rising from the seat of said chair, a foot-supporting panel mounted along the front of said seat for pivotal movement independently of said sliding movement of said seat, and drive means including a rack and pinion operatively arranged in meshing engagement with each other with an extent of frictional resistance against movement to normally hold said foot-supporting panel in its pivotal positions of movement supported in depending relation along the undersurface of said seat operatively connected to urge said foot-supporting panel through pivotal traverses relative to said seat.
 2. A geriatric chair as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive means includes a rack and pinion operatively arranged in meshing engagement with each other with an extent of frictional resistance against movement to normally hold said foot-supporting panel in its pivotal positions of movement.
 3. A geriatric chair as defined in claim 1 including a crank connected to extend from said pinion to an accessible position projected laterally from beneath said seat of said chair.
 4. A geriatric chair as defined in claim 3 including legs for holding said seat support in an elevated position, said legs being formed integral with and as the lower portions of said arm rests. 